Pentair Intelliflow 2 VST Pump - about 3 yrs old. Pool recently opened, pump was primed and running.
I noticed one day later my pump was not running and reason was it had not primed (if it can't prime after 11 minutes, it goes into an error state.)
So I did the following:
(1) Backwashed/rinsed, added DE since my pressure was +10 from the red line on the gauge
(2) emptied all baskets, etc.
(3) I bought a new o-ring for the pump cover and used magic lube to ensure a snug fit
(4) I loaded a bunch of water (home depot buckets and hose) into the pump before trying to prime
Simply put, the pump won't prime. It keeps funneling water, but not enough to create suction.
I close valves (waterfall is normally not on), close main drain, leaving only one skimmer and returns open, still won't prime. It just won't suction fast enough to do so and create the seal in the pump area.
So, I backwash one more time and it of course primes no problem in 15 seconds.
I then QUICKLY turn off the pump, switch from backwash to filter and then prime the pump again, WALLAH, it primes!!
But as soon as my VARIABLE pump hits the schedule to go down in speed (I don't want it running at full speed all the time of course) it is unable to prime.
Full speed = 3450RPM
Next drop down from noon to 4pm = 2450RPM
Usually from 6pm-7am I have it go at a trickle at like 1800RPM.
In the past, this has always been fine. Now suddenly it no longer is.
No: I am not seeing bubbles when primed, so I don't believe I have a leak?
What did I notice: I had a few plastic pieces spit out of my return in the deep end. It looks like maybe some pieces of the DE grid, but I am not sure.
What do I do? Do I contact mfg? Do I need someone to pressure test? I can't keep running the pump at max speed (defeats the point of the variable pump) and I can't keep manually backwashing and then tricking it to go back into priming.
Please help! Pool is otherwise balanced!!
I noticed one day later my pump was not running and reason was it had not primed (if it can't prime after 11 minutes, it goes into an error state.)
So I did the following:
(1) Backwashed/rinsed, added DE since my pressure was +10 from the red line on the gauge
(2) emptied all baskets, etc.
(3) I bought a new o-ring for the pump cover and used magic lube to ensure a snug fit
(4) I loaded a bunch of water (home depot buckets and hose) into the pump before trying to prime
Simply put, the pump won't prime. It keeps funneling water, but not enough to create suction.
I close valves (waterfall is normally not on), close main drain, leaving only one skimmer and returns open, still won't prime. It just won't suction fast enough to do so and create the seal in the pump area.
So, I backwash one more time and it of course primes no problem in 15 seconds.
I then QUICKLY turn off the pump, switch from backwash to filter and then prime the pump again, WALLAH, it primes!!
But as soon as my VARIABLE pump hits the schedule to go down in speed (I don't want it running at full speed all the time of course) it is unable to prime.
Full speed = 3450RPM
Next drop down from noon to 4pm = 2450RPM
Usually from 6pm-7am I have it go at a trickle at like 1800RPM.
In the past, this has always been fine. Now suddenly it no longer is.
No: I am not seeing bubbles when primed, so I don't believe I have a leak?
What did I notice: I had a few plastic pieces spit out of my return in the deep end. It looks like maybe some pieces of the DE grid, but I am not sure.
What do I do? Do I contact mfg? Do I need someone to pressure test? I can't keep running the pump at max speed (defeats the point of the variable pump) and I can't keep manually backwashing and then tricking it to go back into priming.
Please help! Pool is otherwise balanced!!